Fish-scaling machine



Feb. 12, 1929. I

v A. M. ENGLISH ETAL,

FISH sclprue' mcama Filed April 2. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q i 3 W I I Feb. 12, 1929. 1,701,667

A. M. ENGLISH E TAL FISH SCALING MACHINE Filed April 2, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 uys;

Feb. '12, 1929. 1,701,667

A. M. ENGLISH ET AL FISH SCALING MACHINE iled A r1 2, 1 927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 a? ,2! 46 g; p l

1%10'97120919 M 1'1. I I 42902610 116712 24 flhms'a waga v of clamp and related parts;

Patented Feb. 12, 1929. V

; urea?) AnALDo M. ENGLISH, or BROOKLINE, AND HENRY A. CHASE, or NEWTQNVILLE, MAS..-

SACHUS'ETTS, ASSIGNORS 'lO BAY STATE FISHING.

GH'USETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

ICQMPANY, or BOSTON, vrassn- FISH-SCALING MACHINE.

Application filed April 2,

This invention relates to a machine for removing the scales from fish, being adapted 'to receive fish which are'fed thereto manually or mechanically and to convey the same between scale-removing elements and-to deposit the scaled fish at a convenient point for further operations necessary to the'dres'sing and the packing thereof. I

One aspect of the invention relates to the provision of improved scale-removingelements which are adapted to conform to the shape of a fish which is drawn therebetween, and to remove scales from all parts of the fish, while at the same time'avoiding tearing orcutting of the fish skin. For this purpose the present invention presents a series of yieldably mounted spill supporting elements which are adapted to hold a series ofmovable spills against the fish and to be forced outward by'the bulging shape of the fish as it passes by the scale-removing elements The conveyor means which is adapted automatically to grasp the fish and convey them between scale-removing elements and to drop them at the predetermined point, comprises an improved form of automatically actuated, positively-locking clamp or grabber, which is adapted firmly to grasp the tail of a fish vand to hold the same while the scales are being removed therefrom.- I

The above and further advantageous features and objects of the invention will be apparent to'those skilled in the art upon the. reading of the subjoined description and claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 1

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the improved fish scaling machine;

Fig. '2 is a detailed view partly in sectionand partly in elevation V Fig. 3 is asection on line 33 of Fig. 1; l is a broken section on line 4-4 of Fig. 5; I

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of aportion removing factors showing their ability to conform to the shape of the body of the fish passing therebetweeng- Fig. 7 is a top view of the improved form Fig. 8 isan end elevation of the. same; Figs. 9 and 10' are side elevational views cooperative relations; and

perspective detail of a part of the clamp.

' Referring to theaccompanyingdrawings,

and more'partic'ularly to Fig. 1 thereof,. an improved fish scaling machine whichforms the sub ect of the present'inventio'n, comprisesa' supporting frame or table 1 that is provided with-csuitable brackets, standards or the like tojsupport the various. component elements of the fish scaling machine. The

'machinein generalcomprises scale-removing factors, designated by the numeral 10,-which may conveniently comprise a. plurality. of y elda'bly mounted; chains, and conveyor mechanlsm,designated in general by the nu- .meral 11, which may convenientlyco nprise a plurality of anendless. chain carrying clamps 15..

First referring to the conveyor mechanism,

it is to be understood that the endlesschain 1'2 passes, over the sprockets 13 which mayv have may be rotated by any suitable driving means in order to impart movement to the chain and g the other sprocket. Pivotally mounted at suitable intervals upon the chain area plugrip thetail of a fish and firmly to hold the same while it is, being conveyed past'the scale-- horizontally disposed axes and one'of which i removing elements, whereupon the fish may, bereleased from the clamp and the clamp may remain open until it returns'to the position wherein another fish is engaged.

Figs. 7 to 11 illustrate in detail the im-, proved form of clamp. which is an advanw tageous feature of the. present invention;

This clamp preferably is provided With a framework comprising a strap metal member 20, one end of which recelves the round bar or. axle 2 1 carrying'the rollers 22 at'either end thereof,-while' member 21 pivots in brackets 48 which are secured to thechai-n 12; The

other end 211 of bar 20 is bent downwardly Fig. 9;) and is secured against thefiat face arev turned to cylindrical form as designated by the numeral. 24 to form pivots for-rollers of a transverse bar 23,,o'ute'r portions. of which 25. Preferably rollers 22 and ro1ler s'25. are I I I spaced transversely at: substantially the same distance from each other so that they mayrun j 1 tremities of the legs of bracket 35.

upon suitable guideways. Secured against member 23 is the b ight portion of the d-shape bracket 35 (Fig. 11). Extremities of the legs of this bracket receive pivot 36 upon which is mounted the swinging block 37, to'which are secured springs 40 and through which are threaded adjusting screws 41, the latter hearing against appropriate surfaces 43 of the bracket 35. Adjoining the bight portion of the bracket is a transverse pivoty37 upon which is mounted the downwardly extending projection 44 of the swinging wedge 45. Springs 40 are secured to projection 44 and tend to draw the wedge toward the outer ex- Mounted at either side of the U-shap'ed bracket 35 are the complementary clamp or grabber members 50. These members are preferably formed with awe 49 which have "prongs 51 and cooperating openings or re-.

cesses 52, whereby the tail of a fish may be grasped and penetrated. Members 50 have offset portions 53 extending around the sides of bracket 35 and the upper extremities of which form inwardly extending projections or flanges 54 (Figs. 7 and 8). The ends of flanges 54 are beveled designated by numerals 95 and 83, the'bevels 83 having notches '86 to engage a portion of theswinging wedge as will be presently described. The intermediate portions of the offsetsections 53 are provided with transverse flanges 58 that are bored to receive pintles 59 which pro- 'ject outwardly from the bar 23 (Fig. 7), and

in fiil'li'is continued in a wedge-like e xten sion 67 (Figs..7 and 9). Between members 67 and 66 is a central depression 69. p

In order to effect opening and closing of the clamps at the desired points and in order to provideguideways for the same. the

machine is provided with a longitudinal frame member 70. which is disposed adjoining the lower run'of chain 12. Member 70 has internal grooves 71 which. form tracks or guideways for the rollers 22 and 25 of clamps 1'5. Adjoining feed trough 73 and projecting downwardly from an intermediat-e portion of member 70 a pin or stud 80'; this pin being adapted to. eifect the closing of the clamps upon the tail of a fish. Adjoining the oppositeendof the frame-70 is an adjustable wedge 31 to open the clamps. Assuming that the clamp is in its closed position as designated by the dotted line showing of Fig. 8; the springs tend to draw the wedge member into a position wherein the flanges 54 of the clamp members are held apart by the location of the wedge projections 67 between beveled portions 83 of flanges 54, as shown by the dot and dash lines of Figs. 7 and 8 and the dotted lines of 10. Upon approaching the fixed beveled member 81, which normallylies in the path of projections 66 of wedge member 45, the wedge member is swung to the'position shown in Figs. 7 and 9, and spring forces the upper ends of the clamp members toward each other so that the wedge projection 67 of member 55 are caught by the notches 86 in flanges 54, and thesprings 40 are prevented from swinging member 45 back to a position wherein the flanges'55 are spread apart and the clamp is closed until it again approaches pin 80. Member 81 prefer ably is provided with an extension secured by two screws 89 tot-he bed of frame 70, this extension being provided with a rocking lug 90 whereby the position of the member 81 may be adjusted. V

Theopened' clamps upon approaching the feed trough 7 3 have their parts in the position shownin Fig. 7 whereupon the down wardly pro ecting pin 80 engages beveled edges of'fiang-cs 54 and spreads the flanges far enough'apart to move notches 86 outof engagement with wedge projections 67 and-to permit springs 40 to cause member 45 to become wedged between beveled surfaces 83 of flanges 54 inorder firmly to press the clamp jaws toward each other. Preferably suitable channel extensions 96 and 97 extend upwardly from opposite ends of the guide ways 71 ofjthe frame 7 (land form continua tionsof the same in order to receive rollers 22 and 25. Adjoining the upper run of .chain 12 a corresponding guideway 98 is adapted to hold the rollers in proper position. 7

Feed trough 73'may be of anyconvenient form in order to receive a fish and to guide it properly into a position wherein its tail will be grasped by a'clainp 1.5. Y Y

of a plurality of superimposed chains, each of which carry a series of" spills; groups of chains being arranged at opposite sides of the path of the fish and each chain being yieldabiy mounted so that its spills are pressed inwardly in engagement with "various parts of thefishbody. V For'this {nirpose sprockets 100 are keyed to vertially lisposed shafts 101' upon. either side of the frame 70, being driven by suitable gearing 102from any appropriatesource of power. f Between each of the chains is located a swingmg spacer plate 1'04, one endof which is pivotally mounted upon a vertically extendpintle 105 and which is'provided witl an opening 106 about the shaft 101 (Fig.

The other ends of plates 104 are supported upon spacing rollers 161 (Figs. 2'and3), in order accurately to position. the plates and 11.0 i The scale-removing factors are in the form V is adapted automatically to grasp a fish, to i carry the same between suitable scale-removing elements; these scale-removing elements being arranged v to avoid interference with conveying, mechanism, and yet con'torming to allel endless chains, each of said chains be ing wrapped around 'two sprockets, one of which sprocketsis yieldably mounted to permit movement ol the adjoining portion 01% the chain in relation. to the-remainder thereof, scale-removing spills carried by said chains, and means for drawingfish pastthe portions of the chains which are wrapped around the" yieldably mounted sprockets, whereby the chains may be moved various amounts to conform to-the shape of the fish scales are being removed.

2. In amachine of the class described two opposed sets oii'chains each consisting of a plurality of substantially parallel endless chains, each of said chains being wrapped around two sprockets, one ofsaid sprockets being yieldably mounted to permit movement of the adjoining portion of the chain in relation to the remainder thereof, scale-removing spills carried by said chains, and means for drawing fishbetween portions of theopposed sets of chains which are wrapped around the yieldably mounted sprockets, whereby adjoining portions of the chains may be moved various amounts to conform to the shape of f the fish from which scales are being removed. In a machine of the class described a plurality of substantially parallel endless chains, each of said chains being wrapped around two sprockets, one of said sprockets being yieldably mounted to pern'iitmovement Of the adgoining portion ofthe chainin rela- -tion to the'ren ainder thereof, means for spring and stop yieldably to maintain each iyieldably mounting .eachof said sprockets comprising a plurality of plates upon each of which one of theyieldablymounted sprocr'ets is pivoted, a pivot remote from the sprocket about which the plate may swing, and a plate in predetermined position, scalarsmoving spills carried by said chains, and means for drawing fish past the portions oi the chains which are w apped around the yieldably mounted sprockets, whereby chains -may be moved various amounts to conform to f thecontour of the fish from which scalesar being removed. 1

d. In a machlne of the class described, an

able elements, and projecting, double-ended from which fish held by the clamps.

limited.

scale-removing spills having their inner ends '7 held in saidyicldable elements, whereby the spills may. conform to the shape of a fish body.

5. In a machine of the class described, van

endless moving chain, certain links of said chain comprising parallel plates connected'by spills iaving theirinner ends held in said yieldable elements, whereby the spills may conform to the shape of a fish body.

, 6. In a machine of the class describech an endless moving chain, certainQlinks of said cnain comprising parallel plates connected by transversely disposed parts of the chain and being provided with outstanding rubber elements, and outstanding scale-removing spills having their inner ends held in said yieldable elements, and their outer ends pointedand slightly bent, whereby the spills may conform to the shape of a: fish body and may readily engage the under sides of the fish scales.

series of parallel, flexible, endless scale-removlng elements, said scale-removing. elements being supported by rotatable 'membe'rs at theirfopposite ends, said members at one end being yieldably mountech conveyor nieans arranged. to carry fish past the yield.- ably mounted nd o l the scale-removing elements, saic conveyor means including clamps to grip the fish, and means for. moving the scale-removing elements out of the path of the clamps, but to permit them to: engage the ably mounted end of the scale-removing ele-v men-ts, said'conveyorincansincluding clamps to grip thelish, saidscale-removing elements being 'yieldably pressed toward the path of the fish carried by the conveyor means and having their movement toward said path o permit movement of the adjoining portion or the chain in relation 1 the remainder thereof, means for yieldally mounting said s'prockets;comprising a y eldably mounted sprockets is pivoted, pivot remote from the sprocket about which the plate may swing,]anda spring andi stop yleldably to maintain each plate in a one of which sprockets p urality ofplates uponeach'of which one of the i endlessmoving chain, alternate links of said chain being provided with outstanding yieldclass described, a

scale-reng ele-' 7. In a machine of the class described, a

to cont rm to the contour of the fish from avoided.

the spills and the clamps is avoided.

predetermined position, scale-removing spills carried by said chains, and means for drawing fish by the portions of the'chains wrapped around the yieldably mounted sprockets, said 1 means lncludlng clamps for engag ng the fish, a cam element upon one of the plates engageable with the clamps whereby that plate may be swung outwardly away from the clamps, said plate being operatively connected to the remaining plates to cause them similarly to move, whereby adjoining portions of the chains may be moved various amounts which scales are being removed, and whereby interference of the spills and the clamps, 1s

10. In a machine out the class described, a

plurality of substantially parallel endless chains, each of said chains being Wrapped around two sprockets, one of which sprockets isyieldably mounted to permitmovement of the adjoining portion of the chain in relation to the remainder thereof, means for yieldably mounting said sprockets comprising" a plurality of platesfupon each of which one of the yieldably mounted sprockets is pivoted, a pivot remote from the sprocket'about which the platemay swing, and a spring and stop yieldably to maintain each plate in a predetermmed position, scale-removing spllls' carried by said chains, and means for drawingfish by the portions of the chains wrapped. around the yieldably mounted sprockets, said means including clamps for engaging the fish, a cam element upon one of the plates en-' gageable with the clamps whereby that plate may be swung outwardly away from the clamps, said plate being operatively connected to the remaming plates through said step to cause them slmilarly to move, whereby adjoining portions ofthe chainsmay be moved various amount's'to conform to the contour of the fish from whichscales are I I or being removed, and whereby interference 11. In a machine of the class" described,- scale-removingfactors and conveyormeans for moving fish'pastsai'd factors, said means comprising an endless flexible element mov able about rotatable supports at its ends, and clamps carried by saidelement, a wedge upon eachclamp designedto positively hold the jaws of theclamp together, and means dis; posed in the'path of the clamp to engage the wedge to permit opening of the jaws to release the fish. 7 H v v 12. In a machine of the class described,

scale-removing factors and conveyor means,

for moving fish past said factors, said means comprising an endless flexible element mov-' able about rotatable supports at its ends, and

clamps carried by said-element, a wedge upon each clamp, springs tending to draw said wedge between portions of the clampln order positively to hold the jawsof'the clamp to:

jaws to release the fish.

wedge from this v scale-removing factors and} conveyor means for moving fish past sa1dtactors,-sa1 d means.

Signed by 1 as gether, and means disposed in. the'path of the clamp toengage the wedge and to act against the springs to permit opening of the 13. Ina machine ofthe scale-removing factors and conveyor. means forimoving fish past said factors, said means class described;

comprising an endless flexible elementmoyable about'rotatable su oorts at its ends and clamps carried by :said element, each clamp comprising pivotally mounted jaws to en "gage a fish, and extensions of the jaws adaptes to be engaged by awedge upon the clamp,

which is designed fp o sitivelyto hold,- the jaws ol the clamp together, means disposed in the Dathot the clamp to force the aw'extensions apart to permit engagement of the wedge therebetween whereby the aws are closed to engageailish and meansdisposedr' in the path of the clamp to engage the wedgeto permitopening-ot' the jaws torelease the r 14. In a machine of the class described,

scale-removing factors and conveyor means 1 for moving fish pastsaid factors,said means O prising an endless flexible element mov comprisingpivotally mounted jawsto engage a fish, and extensions of the jaws 'adaptedtol" .able about'rotatable supports at its ends, and clamps-carried by said element, each clamp be engaged bya wedge uponthe clamp designed to positively hold the jaws of the clamp'together, and means for removing the position when the clamp are rives at a given part of their path; 4 '15. In a'machin e of the class described,

scale-removing factors and conveyor means I for moving fish pastfsaid factors, said means comprising an endless flexible element movable about rotatable supports at its ends,"and

clamps carried by said element, said clamps 1 1 being transverselypivoted to the-flexible elej-V mentand being provided. with rollers having 1 parallel axes,'guide means substant ally parallehn'ga portlonfot the flexible element and},

adapted to engagethe rollers tomainta'inthef pivoted; clamps in proper position. during:

their movement with the flexible element.

16'. In a machine the class described,

comprising an endless flexible I element movsaid chain, a roller carried the, pivotally, mounted clamp'pOfrtion and guide means 'en-' T gageable with; said roller tojh old the piyo-ted,-,.' "clamp I portion in proper position during .a a

portion of; its

movement with the flexible l m t p I.

this 29thday oft-March} 1927. 1

. TAN LDQ l t NetisHi I 1. 11 11t1 1 A CHASE; 5

ableaboutrotatable.supports at its ends, and i clamps. carried by said "element, a'. portion of said clamps being pivotally connected to;

i t Ma'ssachllS l l 

